Stencil hand stamp



Feb. 13, 1923. 1,445,447

G. T. PRITCHARD STENCIL HAND STAMP Filed July 12, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTO R N EY Feb. 13, 1923.

W TNESSES G. T. PRITCHARD STENCIL HAND STAMP Filed July 12,1921

2 sheets-sheet 2 ao gefPri'jxl /ard INVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Feb, 13, 19 23.,

UNHTED STATES GEORGE THOMAS PRITCHARD, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

"STENCIL HAND STAMP.

Application filed July 12,

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. PRITOHARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented a new and use ful Improvement in Stencil Hand Stamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference, to stencil stamps for addressing or otherwise-imprinting shipping tags and capable of a wide range of usefulness, and its object is to pro-- vide a simple device of small and cheap construction designed to use imprints in stencil form and wherein the stencil slips may be readily changed as needed. The device makes possible and easy the making of any number of impressions of any desired matter, either in the form of fac simile typewriting, handwriting or drawn work. The invention comprises a body capable of manufacture in most part of sheet metal, having a handle which may be grasped by the. hand, and provided with a porous or foraminous container for ink, with pad through which the ink is distributed, and a holder for a replaceable stencil, permitting the application of the address or other indicia to a tag or package in such manner as to prevent smearing, the construction beingsuch that a cushion-like effect is produced so that the result of the printing is neat.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming; part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the.invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of .lthe stencil stamp disclosing the preferred form.

Figure 2 is an inverted perspective view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section showingrthe handle in elevation} igure 4. is a plan View of the stencil sheet before the address is produced thereon.

1921. Serial No, 484,013.

Figure 5 is an inverted perspective view, similar to Figure 2, but showing a modified form.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section, similar to Figure 8, but showing the form illus trated in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a plan Viewof the stencil sheet ,nsed in connection with the structure shown in Figure 5.

Referring first to Figures 1 andt of the drawings, there is shown a body member 1 which may be stampedout of sheet metal, and is indicated as of rectangular shape, with one face 2 in the form of a rectangular frame through which there is produced an elongated opening 3 enclosed by the frame 2. That face of the body member 1 remote from the frame 2 has transverse lips 4 at opposite ends of the body member and turned one toward the other.

Fitted to the face of the body member remote from the frame 2 is a top or cover 5 of a size approximating that of the top area of the body member, but sufficiently shorter to allow the top 5, which is in the form of a flat plate, to slide at the ends under the lips 4 and constitute a substantially tight closure for the body member. One long side of the cover 5 has a short prolongation 6 and the corresponding long side 6 of the body member l is correspondingly cut away to allow the cover 5 to seat in the cut-away portion. Moreover, the lips 4 at the ends remote from the cut-away side 6 are shortened as indicated at P to provide an entrance for the cover so that it may rest flat upon the upper edge of the corresponding long side of the body 1 indicated at 6 The cover 5 is also provided, near the ends, with snap springs 7 made of strips of elastic sheet metal riveted or otherwise fast at one end to the cover and projecting at the ends, corresponding to theside 6 of the body, being there formed into snap hooks 8 holding the cover in place when it is in closing relation to the body member 1. Furthermore, protecting guides 7 are formed on the bod forthe free ends 8 of the snap springs to provide protecting means for them and prevent accidental bending or distortion of said springs. The ice cover 5 is provided with a handle 9 fast thereto. whereby the stamp may be readily manipu ated, such handle being located, in the particular showing of the drawings, about midway of the length and breadth of the cover. This-handle serves also as a means for sliding the cover.

There is also provided an ink distributing pad 10 of felt or other suitable material, built in truncated pyramidal form. The pad is produced in three layers 10, 10 and 10, in the particular showing of the drawings, Figure 3, the layer 10 being of a size too large to pass through the opening 3 of the frame 2, while the layer 10 fits snugly in the opening 3, and the layer 10 is or may be made of'the same thickness as the layer 10 and is of less area so that the layer 10 is wholly outside of the body 1 while the pad is maintained connected to the casing, althoughi in most part outside thereof, by the thinner and larger layer 10 resting on the inner face of the frame 2. In the showing of Figure 6, the layer 10 may be formed of two thicknesses sewedor otherwise joined together face to face. I do not wish to be limited to the precise number of layers."

Contained within the casing 1 is a f0 raminous receptacle 11, shown as made of finely perforated metal, although not necessarily confined to such material. The receptacle 11 is of a size to snugly, yet freely fit in the casing 1, and of a depth to bear upon the layer 10 of the pad 10 to clamp the whole pad in place.

At opposite ends of the body 1, exterior thereto, are laterally elongated pocketsor clips 12, capable of receiving end portions 14: of flexible stencil frames 15. The pockets 12, when they extend entirely across the ends of the body as they do in Figures 1, 2 and 3, have the advantage of holding the stencils 15 very firmly as they engage the complete end of'the stencil. For convenience, the stencil frame 15 may be made of tough paper or cardboard and is provided with a central elongated, and preferably rectangular opening 16, covered by a sheet 17 of suitable paper, such as is commercially known as fiber stencil material glued or otherwise made fast to the frame 15, although other material. suitable for the purpose, may be substituted for the particular kind of material named.

I donot wish to be limited to the form of stencil used. In practice, a name and address is usually typewritten on the sheet 17 so asto cut through the same.

The construction shown in Figures 5 to 7 differs from the construction shown in Figures 1 to 4 in certain minor respects, though the principal features are the same. At each end portion of the stencil in the form shown in, Figure 7, there is a notch 18 suitably shaped to permit the frame 15 to be introduced at its ends under the fingers 13 of the clips 12*, thus holding the stencil frames to the stamp without liability of the stencil frame escap ng from the clips under conditions of use, but permitting the interchange of stencil frames whenever desirable.

In Figures 1, 2and 3, the pockets 12, ex-

tending the full width of the body 1 and closed at the ends, are to be preferred to the clips 12 shown in Figures 5 and 6, as affording a more certain hold for the stencil frames,

and also one from which the stencils may be more readily removed than from theclips 12*.

WVhen the stencil stamp is assembled for use, an appropriate quantity of ink, such as is customarily used in connection with sten- The stencil paper 17 in the frame 16 may be prepared with an address or other indicia in the usual manner of preparing stencils on typewriters, and this stencil is then applied to the pad 10 in contact'with the layer 10 and the stamp is used in the usual manner, while the stencil sheets or frames are changed from time to time as desired.

The invention has numerous advantges over structures of like nature as heretofore proposed, in that the stencil is susceptible of being attached and detached quickly and with ease, and there is no necessity of soiling the fingers in so doing, for there is nothing about the stamp to fasten or unfasten in order to attach o-r detach the stencil. The

paper or cardboard frame 15 of the stencil has been found in practice to lmpart suf ficient rigidity to it to hold it in place when the ends are inserted in the pockets 12 or underthe fingers 13 of the clips 12*. At the same time, the stencil is sufliciently fiexi, ble to admit of the slight bending necessary to slip the ends in place, and the stencil frame is also sufiiciently flexible to allow it to give, due to the cushion effect of the backing pad. Moreover, the marginal frame of the stencil permits it to be indexed and filed for future use.

The layer 10 of the padbeing somewhat larger than the layer 10, serves to absorb any ink which might exude from the printing layer, which is the smallest layer of the pad and, the one contacting directly with the stencil sheet 17. Moreover, the progressively diminishing area of the pad to the stencil sheet, and its superior thickness, gives it great ink retainingv capacity, and increases the cushion-like efi'ect which contributes to the positive and neat results obtained. Furthermore, the pyramidal construction of the pad increases its stability and prevents sagging after continual use.

Besides contributing to the ease of inking the pad as it is not necessary to distribute the ink with a brush, the pad itself doing the distributing, the ink chamber prevents dust from accumulating on the ink smeared perforations, and therefore this feature adds to the neatness of the device.

In an earlier application, No. 455,175, I have disclosed and claimed specifically the subject matter of Figures 5, 6 and 7 of this application, reserving to this application the claims for the generic features of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. A hand stamp comprising a casing with an extended opening through one face, a pyramidal pad comprising a plurality of layers, with one layer contained in the casing to hold the pad in place, another layer projecting through and fittting the opening in the casing, and another layer wholly exterior to the casing, the several layers being united, means in the casing for containing ink and distributing it to the pad, and holding means on the casing for receiving the end portions of a stencil device and holding the stencil device against the pad.

2. A hand stamp comprising a casing with one face open and the other face partially closed by marginal flanges, inturned lips at the first named face of the casing, a cover for the open face of the casing, apad of absorbent material formed of a plurality of progressively smaller layers joined together, with one layer behind the marginal flanges of the casing and resting thereon to hold the pad in place, another layer of a size to closely fit in the opening through the casing, and another layer exterior to the casing and smaller than either of the first named layers, a stencil with a marginal frame and provided with a stencil sheet, and holding means for the stencil for engaging the ends of the frame and holding it in operative relation to the pad of absorbent material.

3. In a stencil hand stamp, a stencil frame with a stencil sheet of thinner and more flexible material than the frame, a casing provided with means for carrying the hand stamp, and an inking pad backing the stencil, with the pad of stepped form to distribute ink to the stencil, and with theoutermost portion of the pad separated from the innermost portion by a layer of intermediate area to both the inner and outer portions of the pad, whereby to avoid smearing the stencil.

4. In a stencil stamp, an ink carrying reservoir having an opening through its working face, ink-distributing means in the reservoir, a stepped pad communicating with the interior of the stamp for feeding ink to the exterior thereof, said pad being formed of two or more layers having one layer fitting the said opening and extending to the exterior of the stamp and another layer wholly exterior to the stamp and of less area than said other layer, and a stencil sheetufor engaging the exterior layer of the pad to the exclusion of other portions thereof.

5. In a stencil hand stamp, a casing having means for receiving and holding stencil ink, a pad applied to the casing, inturned holding means consisting of elongated pockets extending across the ends of the casing with the entrances thereto facing inwardly, and a stencil frame having a stencil sheet therein, said frame being of a size to permit the ends of the frame to be introduced into the pockets and of a width to be held from lateral movement.

6. In a stencil hand stamp, a casing having one face in the form of a rectangular frame defining an elongated opening surrounded by said frame, a pad having a portion thereof fitted within the opening of said frame, a foraminous receptacle contained within the casing'and serving to retain the pad in position, said pad projecting through the opening of the casing and. being exposed on the exterior thereof, a stencil frame having a stencil sheet therein, and means provided on the ends of the casing for engaging the stencil frame to hold the same in position, said means consisting of elongated pockets overhanging the rectangular frame and spaced therefrom and o a length substantially equal to the width of said frame.

7. A stencil hand stamp comprising la, casing with an opening through one face, a cover for the other face, end pockets rigidly mounted at the ends of the casing and each of a length corresponding to the width of the casing, a stencil having its ends wholly received in said pockets to hold the stencil in place, and a pad in the casing and projecting through the opening in the casing.

8. A stencil hand stamp provided with pockets which are rigidly mounted at each end and maintain a fixed relation at all times, the said pockets extending substantially the full width of the stamp and having their ends closed and their open mouths facing inwardly and overhanging the operative face of the stamp so as to receive the ends of the stencil frame which are inserted into the open mouths of the pockets and are retained in place from longitudinal and transverse movement without the intervention of any other means.

9. In a stencil hand stamp, a casing hav ing one face in the form of a rectangular frame defining an elongated opening surrounded by said frame, said casing having means for receiving and holding ink, a pad applied to the casing and projecting beyond said opening, rigid holding means carried by the ends of the casing, said holding means consisting of pockets which are closed on all sides except that side facing the ends of the pad, said pockets overhang ing the said frame and having their open mouths spaced from the ends of the pad,

and a stencil frame having its ends inserted 10 Within the mouths of said pockets and held from longitudinal and transverse movements. 7

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature. 15

GEORGE THOMAS PRITCHARD. 

